Days prior to his showdown with Lyoto Machida at UFC 163 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Davis is clearly worn down by press obligations.

He's responding by either going company line to the fullest -- think Rasheed Wallace's "Both teams played hard" -- or using sharp wit and bizarre stories to drive the conversation into unforeseen directions.

It's the same personality he shows in the octagon, where he's capable of doing just about anything. Only instead of trying to fend off Machida, he's having fun challenging a reporter to do his job.

How is he enjoying his time in Rio de Janeiro?

"I like it. I like it a lot."

Are interviews simply a mandatory part of his job, or does he find them the least bit enjoyable?

"I enjoy it. I like to rock 'n' roll all night and party every day."

What was the nature of the knee injury that sidelined him in 2011?

"I banged up my PCL. It's pretty solid now. I bought a brand new one on eBay."

Oh yeah? What's a new PCL set you back?

"It costs an arm and a leg."

As tough as it is to match wits with Davis, it's still better than fighting him.

Davis, a Harrisburg native and former Penn State wrestling standout, is a rangy and constantly improving striker. He features an array of deadly kicks. He can use elite wrestling skills to take fights to the mat and finishes them by any means necessary.

It's an unconventional but effective attack, to be sure. Davis will need every bit of it to topple Machida, a former UFC titleholder who is likely a win away from challenging Jon "Bones" Jones for the light heavyweight title.

Machida will get that opportunity against Davis in his native Brazil, where he must have a home field advantage. Right?

Not so, says Davis.

"He has to entertain his friends, family, his entire city and everybody here just for him," Davis said. "Not me. These are just people I'm fighting in front of."

Not only that, Rio de Janeiro could be a location of destiny for Davis with a title shot back within reach.

"It's known as the wonderful city, if you didn't know," Davis said. "I also go by the name of Mr. Wonderful. Here I am, a man who is wonderful in a city that's wonderful. I think that's meant to be."

By the way, ask Davis where the Mr. Wonderful nickname comes from, and you'll likely get a dozen different responses.

On this day, he goes with a cat he had in college, but not just any cat. He was "the best cat that ever was" and his roommate let him free. Davis fights in memory of the cat, who may or may not be fictitious and may or may not have been called Mr. Wonderful.

Davis can move a few rungs up the ladder with a victory and sees a clear formula for rising all the way to the top. It involves his local fan base pestering UFC president Dana White for a shot at Jones.

"Central Pa. has my back, that is for sure," Davis said. "It's as simple as this. I've got to win Saturday and gotta look good doing it. Then I need fans to get on Dana's nerves. Let him know you want me to fight for the title."